Long Beach, Calif. -
Junior Jake Stassi made his fifth straight quality start, improving to 4-1 on the year with 7.1 innings pitched as Long Beach State defeated UC Davis 6-4 to take the series with the Aggies. Ino Patron had a two-run triple, and Michael Hill, Colby Brenner, and Zack Rivera each had two hits on the day.

Stassi allowed three runs on seven hits, but struck out four and pitched seven innings for the fourth time in his last five starts. The defense behind the southpaw was stout as well, playing error-free against the Aggies and providing solid run support at the plate.

For the second game in a row, Long Beach State (15-18, 5-3 Big West) scored a pair of runs in the second inning to take an early lead. Juan Avila doubled to start the frame, scoring on a single from Rivera. Rivera then stole second and scored on a base hit by Brenner.

UC Davis (11-21, 0-8 Big West) tied the game in the top of the fifth inning. Steven Patterson led off the inning with his first hit of the game, and then with two outs, Adam Young tripled to get the Aggies on the board. A single by John Williams brought home young and UC Davis tied the game at 2-2.

Long Beach State answered right back, scoring four runs in the bottom half of the same inning. Brenner reached on an infield single, and the McNeil pushed a hit through the left side to put runners on the corners with no outs. Hill singled to give the Dirtbags the lead, and then a triple by Ino Patron scored a pair of runs, making the score 5-2. Avila then hit a sacrifice fly to score Patron for a 6-2 lead.

UC Davis pulled back a run in the top of the seventh inning after a leadoff single by Patterson, but Stassi was able to finish off the inning and hold a 6-3 lead.

A 5-4-3 double play got Jon Maciel out of a jam after the closer came in during the eighth inning, and Landon Hunt picked up the final out with two runners on after the Aggies scored one in the top of the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

Long Beach State will try to finish off the sweep tomorrow in the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.